Venezuelan VP Says Chavez Still in Charge

Venezuela's vice president says President Hugo Chavez is still in charge of the country and making policy decisions even as he undergoes chemotherapy in a military hospital.

Nicolas Maduro said on Venezuelan television that Mr. Chavez sent a batch of policy papers to his Cabinet as recently as Friday.

Maduro earlier described the president's treatments as tough and said he is fighting for his life. But he says Mr. Chavez is in good spirits and that he is stronger than the exhausting chemotherapy treatments.

Mr. Chavez went into a Caracas hospital last month after spending two months in Cuba, forcing him to miss his January 10 inauguration for another six-year term.

The Venezuelan government has given few details of the president's illness other than saying he has a cancer in his pelvis.

The opposition has accused officials of lying about Mr. Chavez's condition.